Press Release
June 22, 2008

Jinggoy urges SBMA to impose stricter regulations
on Hanjin's operations in Subic

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada urged the Subic Bay Metropolitan Development Authority (SBMA) to strictly regulate the operations of the South Korean firm Hanjin Industries and Construction Philippines Inc. (Hanjin) after three workers died in the past two weeks in the shipyard in Subic.

Estrada said there were reports that another Filipino worker was killed and four others were injured in what regulators described as a freak accident last Friday afternoon.

Two other Filipino workers died in separate accidents at the Hanjin shipyard last June 15 and June 11.

Estrada, chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development, said SBMA should implement tougher rules and regulations at the Hanjin shipyard to avoid more accidents.

"Filipino workers are dying because of the apparent careless disregard to safety of Hanjin officials. SBMA should protect our workers," Estrada said.

SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza had ordered Hanjin to stop all construction activities after the accident that killed Mario Atrero, 52, when a platform at a dry-dock construction site collapsed due to strong winds last June 20.

Four other workers were injured: Joel Alido of Palauig, Zambales; Darvin Silva of San Antonio, Zambales; David Alcayaga of Castillejos, Zambales; and Leody Abad also of Palauig.

Estrada said there were reports that another worker at the Hanjin shipyard identified as Oliver Labay, 32, died on June 15 after he was pinned down by a one-ton bulkhead for a cargo ship.

Another worker Rafael Careg, died on June 11 after the pick up truck he was riding was hit by a crane boom truck.

SBMA Data showed that the recent fatalities brought to 12 the number of deaths recorded at the shipyard since Hanjin started operations in 2006.

Estrada said SBMA should shut down the operations of Hanjin "if safety measures are not enforced in the shipyard."

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